Friday, April 17, 23 Nisan 6:00 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Services Please join Rabbi Plumb and Cantor Elana Rozenfeld for a virtual "From Our Home to Yours"
Saturday, April 18, 24 Nisan 9:30 - 10:30 AM Shabbat Mevarchim Morning Services Please join Rabbi Plumb and Rabbi Lev Friedman for a virtual "From Our Home to Yours"
Torah read by Rose Spritzer.
The Parasha is Shemini Leviticus 9:1-6 The Haftarah is 2 Samuel 6:1-7:17
This week, we read Parashat Shemini, Leviticus 9:1.
The parasha begins with the two unexpected tragic deaths of Aaron’s sons. After their deaths, Aaron is silent. Aaron is not able to bury his children. Other Israelites take his beloved dead out of the camp. I am reminded of all the funerals that so many, too many, around the world are suffering through, including some of our own members. In order to protect lives, as we know, the griefstricken cannot be at the bedsides or gravesides of their loved ones so they, like Aaron, are not able to say goodbye. It is as if we, like Aaron, are silenced.
At the same time, during Pesah, we read in the Torah about how the Israelites took the bones of Joseph with them out of Egypt. Although they were starting a new life, they wanted to make sure they kept their memories of their beloved close to them. During the month of April, we have many opportunities to recall and share stories of those who came before us, for example at Pesah and Yom Hashoa.
This pandemic and the sudden deaths of so many is reminding us of a powerful message: If there are things to say to our loved ones, don’t wait to say them. If reconciliations or tough conversations are needed, or words of appreciation and love have gone unstated, and we decide to speak, then take the leap, and speak.
We are in the beginning of counting the Omer, the counting of the days between Pesah and Shavuot. This coming week, as part of the Omer, we will be focusing on the middah, the trait, of gevurah, strength. It often takes strength to speak words that have gone unsaid, whether they are words of love, remorse, or hurt.
Kohelet, Ecclesiastes, reminds us that there is a time to speak and a time to stay silent. Choose wisely when to speak and when to refrain from speaking. There will come a day, for all of us, when the time to converse physically is taken away. During this period of counting our Jewish days, and counting the days of the pandemic, let us make our moments and our speech count.
This Shabbat, may we find the words that express kindness, gratitude and love,
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Marcia Plumb
Congregation Mishkan Tefila 384 Harvard St. Brookline, MA 02446
